735 people sought couples therapy help at Portland in the last year

Discover how starting therapy with a couples can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.

Meet with a provider as soon as this week

ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Maine | BCBS (PPO | HMO | POS), Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card), +17 more
Anger, Coping Skills, Infidelity, Self Esteem, Stress, +10 more

5 more therapist available in Maine

Give us a call to schedule your next appointment, or browse through our full list of available providers.

Monique Nickie Murray

Hear from Monique Nickie Murray, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)

View Monique Nickie Murray's profile

What is your go-to approach for couples/marriage counseling?

My approach to couples/marriage counseling is honesty and openness to both people. I tell each couple that I do not take sides because I am not in your relationship. I find benefit in helping each person understand and hear what the other is saying through role play, CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), and MI (motivational interviewing).

What tools do you teach in couples/marriage counseling?

In marriage counseling, I teach active listening (not listening to answer), asking questions to clarify (instead of making assumptions), taking time outs if a discussion is getting heavy or elevated, and giving each other grace while learning to make changes.

How do you know when a client is making meaningful progress in couples/marriage counseling?

I know a couple is making progress through their reports, through their body language with each other, and when they provide examples of what they feel they have accomplished.

What can clients do in their personal time to supplement couples/marriage counseling?

Couples can supplement their time in counseling by actively working on the assignments given and providing understanding and grace to each other outside of the sessions.

What should someone do to prepare for starting couples/marriage counseling?

In preparing for couples counseling, keep the end goal in mind. The sessions are most successful when patterns are discussed versus “S/he did or didn't...”

Starting Couples therapy

What is couples therapy?

Thriveworks Couples therapy helps couples work through their specific relationship issues. It is led by licensed professionals — often licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) — who are experts in their field and best-equipped to help couples. Some examples of common focuses within couples therapy include:

  • Jealousy
  • Trust issues
  • Infidelity
  • Opposing values
  • Different visions for the future
  • Disagreements in parenting
  • Lack of trust
  • Financial distress
  • Sex issues

How does couples therapy work?

Couples therapy works by helping couples identify and better navigate their unique challenges. Following an initial assessment of the couple in terms of strengths and needs, the therapist would then discuss their therapeutic goals and any possible approaches or ways of working together as therapist and couple.
Couples attend sessions together, whether they meet in person or by video. In addition to regular couples therapy sessions, each partner may also be asked to attend a few individual sessions to supplement their progress. This will allow their counselor to get to know each individual better, assess each of their personal needs, and develop the very best treatment plan moving forward.

Is couples therapy conducted in person or online?

Couples therapy at Thriveworks is conducted both in person and via Online therapy. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you and your partner.

How long does couples therapy last?

On average, couples attend couples therapy for 12 weeks. However, couples therapy may last longer or shorter, dependent on the couples’ needs, the challenges they’d like to work through, and the pace of their progress.

Need more help deciding?

Couples Therapy in Portland, ME—Relationship Counselors

Disagreements between partners aren’t uncommon, but they can definitely add stress to your relationship and tension to your home. If you and your partner are struggling with an issue in your relationship, couples therapy is a wise idea. The American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists recommends that the sooner you and your partner seek help to resolve your disagreements, the more likely you are to be able to move forward positively together.

Thriveworks Counseling in Portland, ME has couples therapists and other relationship counselors on our team. We can help you and your partner make the necessary reparations in your relationship and improve it as a whole. Reach out today to get started.

Are There More Lows Than Highs in Your Relationship?

All relationships will fluctuate over time, with couples experiencing both highs and lows together. This is completely normal; it would be unnatural to assume that you’ll never have challenging moments or always agree on everything. Often the challenging moments will be overcome; you can resolve arguments and move forward as a couple. But if you and your spouse or partner are feeling stuck on a matter or starting to have more lows than highs, it might be time to address them with a Portland couples counselor.

Some common approaches to couples therapy include The Gottman Method, narrative therapy, and Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy. Remember: All of our Thriveworks counselors get to know their clients before designing their treatment plan. This ensures that they help you put the best foot forward on this journey.

Most Prevalent Relationship Issues

Every couple’s circumstances are unique: your personalities, family dynamic, work-life balance, religion, culture, and many other factors make you different than anyone else. However, despite those factors there are several topics that commonly come up in couples counseling, regardless of the background of the partners. These sticking points may include:

  • Disagreements about finances, including saving and spending
  • Different opinions on how to raise or discipline children
  • Stress from conflicting relationships with extended family
  • Worries about the possibility of infidelity
  • Unhappiness over career changes, overworking or job loss.

Hesitating to Seek Help?

Often, couples will consider but then delay the process of seeking help via Portland couples counseling. They may have been able to resolve issues on their own before, or they might not feel it’s necessary to attend couples therapy if their relationship is otherwise strong. This is exactly the instance in which the AAMFT recommends benefiting from the support of a trained professional. Why wait until that one issue you’re struggling with starts to affect other aspects of your relationship, too?

Scheduling Portland Couples Counseling at Thriveworks

Did you know that after seeking the guidance and support of a couples counselor, more than 93% of American spouses report feeling better equipped to deal with their issues in the future? That’s a great reason to seek out a Portland couples counselor at Thriveworks Counseling who can facilitate discussion about your issue and help you work towards a positive resolution.

We can provide you with a safe, respectful environment to discuss and resolve whatever is bothering you, helping you to move forward positively together. Plus, we offer evening and weekend sessions, provide same-week appointments, and accept most major insurances. Reach out today for help.

Pricing & insurance

Our therapists accept most major insurances. We accept 585+ insurance plans, and offer self-pay options, too.
Learn more about pricing for therapy and counseling services at Thriveworks.

Our Portland therapists and counselors accept 29 insurance plans

  • Aetna

  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Maine | BCBS Medicare Advantage

  • Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Maine | BCBS (PPO | HMO | POS)

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Cigna | Evernorth EAP

  • Cigna | Evernorth Medicare Advantage

  • Community Health Options

  • Compsych

  • First Health Network

  • Harvard Pilgrim

  • Humana Exchange

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Self-pay costs at Portland
Talk therapy

Talk therapy

Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Talk therapy

Psychiatry

Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Hear from our clients

2.0 Learn about verified reviews
★★☆☆☆
My counselor was great and I adored him, he gets 5/5. I received my first billing statement on 1-16-24, the email saying I could pay in part or in full. I payed about a 3rd, and planned on doing the same for 2 more pay checks. Today, 1-31-24, I received an email thanking me for my payment. Their billing department withdrew the remaining balance,over $350 from my account without authorization. I only had $60 in that account. I work in private healthcare, and my practice would never collect without a clients knowledge and consent. If they won’t pay, we don’t use their stores info and take their money, we send to collections and let them do their job. I did try calling, auto it said wait time 20 minutes. I sent an email to their department at 1ish, didn’t hear anything back by end of business day.
Read more My counselor was great and I adored him, he gets 5/5. I received my first billing statement on 1-16-24, the email saying I could pay in part or in full. I payed about a 3rd, and planned on doing the same for 2 more pay checks. Today, 1-31-24, I received an email thanking me for my payment. Their billing department withdrew the remaining balance,over $350 from my account without authorization. I only had $60 in that account. I work in private healthcare, and my practice would never collect without a clients knowledge and consent. If they won’t pay, we don’t use their stores info and take their money, we send to collections and let them do their job. I did try calling, auto it said wait time 20 minutes. I sent an email to their department at 1ish, didn’t hear anything back by end of business day.
Kali Feb 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★☆☆☆
My counselor was great and I adored him, he gets 5/5. I received my first billing statement on 1-16-24, the email saying I could pay in part or in full. I payed about a 3rd, and planned on doing the same for 2 more pay checks. Today, 1-31-24, I received an email thanking me for my payment. Their billing department withdrew the remaining balance,over $350 from my account without authorization. I only had $60 in that account. I work in private healthcare, and my practice would never collect without a clients knowledge and consent. If they won’t pay, we don’t use their stores info and take their money, we send to collections and let them do their job. I did try calling, auto it said wait time 20 minutes. I sent an email to their department at 1ish, didn’t hear anything back by end of business day.
Read more My counselor was great and I adored him, he gets 5/5. I received my first billing statement on 1-16-24, the email saying I could pay in part or in full. I payed about a 3rd, and planned on doing the same for 2 more pay checks. Today, 1-31-24, I received an email thanking me for my payment. Their billing department withdrew the remaining balance,over $350 from my account without authorization. I only had $60 in that account. I work in private healthcare, and my practice would never collect without a clients knowledge and consent. If they won’t pay, we don’t use their stores info and take their money, we send to collections and let them do their job. I did try calling, auto it said wait time 20 minutes. I sent an email to their department at 1ish, didn’t hear anything back by end of business day.
Kali Jan 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling Portland is located at the corner of Ashmont Street and Forest Avenue. We share a building with Normandeau Associates and Maine Celtics Sportswear store among other businesses. At the corner, you will find the Forest Ave and 550 Forest Ave bus stop for the 2 bus line.

Phone number

(207) 994-7555

Languages spoken by ME providers

  • English
Sunday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Monday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Thursday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Friday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Saturday 8:00am - 9:00pm

Shown in ET

Sunday 8:00am - 5:00pm
Monday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Tuesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Wednesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Thursday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Friday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Saturday 7:00am - 6:00pm

Shown in ET

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